Darius Taylor, defense shine in Gophers’ blowout win over Nevada

The Minnesota Gophers football team wrapped up its non-conference slate with a dominant 27-0 win over Nevada on Saturday at Huntington Bank Stadium.

With the win, the Gophers are now 2-1 heading into next weekend’s clash with their rival Iowa Hawkeyes to open Big Ten play.

Against the Wolf Pack on Saturday, it was all Gophers.

Star sophomore running back Darius Taylor had 11 carries for 124 yards and two touchdowns, plus 37 yards and another touchdown on five catches. His biggest highlight of the day was an 80-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter — the longest run of his career.

Related: Gophers RB Darius Taylor breaks off 80-yard TD run

Gophers quarterback Max Brosmer completed 16 of 26 passes for 191 yards, with one touchdown and one interception, but outside of Taylor, the defense was Minnesota’s star of the day.

Entering the weekend, Minnesota’s defense had allowed just 193.5 yards per game (ninth-best in the nation) and 9.5 points per game (23rd in the country). They only improved those numbers with Saturday’s performance.

The Gophers held the Wolf Pack to 172 total yards while snagging three interceptions — two by redshirt freshman defensive back Kerry Brown — and adding four sacks.

The Maroon and Gold will stay home for the battle for the battle for Floyd of Rosedale next Saturday . That will be a nationally televised, primetime game, with kickoff slated for 6:30 p.m. on NBC.